BEAU TRAVAILThe Military, Masculinity and Colonialism

Denis Biography

Born in Paris (1948), but emigrated to Cameroon at 2 months due to father’s work with French Colonial Administration

Lived in Cameroon, Djibouti and Burkina Faso during era of struggle for independence

Returned to France at age 13 when contracted polio

Returned to West Africa at age 17 for schooling (Japanese, history, geography)

Image source: Belgian Society of Cinematographers

Denis Education & Early Career Intern at Télé-Niger Entered Institut des Hautes

Etudes Cinématographiques (IDHEC); graduated 1972

Worked way up through filmmaking ranks (intern, production assistant, second assistant director) and served as assistant director for filmmakers such as Jacques Rivette, Wim Wenders, Costa-Gavras and Jim Jarmusch

Experience on Wenders’s Paris, Texas leading her to search for own landscape Image source:

University of Alabama

Denis From AD to Director

First feature: Chocolat (1988) Combined Denis’s

childhood experience in colony, Oyono’s novel Houseboy and history of decolonization in Cameroon

Beginning of long collaboration with co-writer Jean-Pôl Fargeau and cinematographer Agnès Godard

Still from Chocolat (1988). Image source: Harvard Film Archive

Denis Feature Films Man No Run (1989) No Fear, No Die (1990) Jacques Rivette, Le

Veilleur (1990) I Can’t Sleep (1994) Nénette and Boni (1996) Beau Travail (1999) Trouble Every Day (2001) Vendredi Soir (2002) The Intruder (2004) Vers Mathilde (2005) 35 Shots of Rum (2008) White Material (2009)

Image source: Paste Magazine

Beau Travail (1999)

Sources Melville’s Billy Budd,

Sailor (1885-91/1924) [Syopsis :: Etext]

Billy Budd, opera (1951) Le Petit Soldat (Godard

1960/1963) French Foreign Legion

mythology and iconography

Experience of living in Djibouti

Still from Beau Travail (1999). Image source: Reverse Shot

European Colonialism in Djibouti

Ruled by Sultan of Raheita, Tadjoura and Gobaad in late 19th century

French purchase anchorage of Obock in 1862

French expanded holdings into colony of French Somaliland by 1884

Becomes French Territory of the Afars and the Issas in 1967

1977: Independence for Republic of Djibouti

Image source: Exploring Africa